Api Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
API Engineer jobs are well-suited for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations, making H-1B sponsorship a realistic next step. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if eligible, gives you time to prove your value and secure long-term status.
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Get Access To All JobsSenior Java API Engineer - (Java/Spring Boot, FHIR, Epic) - 100% Remote - W2 Contract-to-Hire
Optomi, in partnership with a leading healthcare company, is seeking a Senior API Engineer to fulfill a contract-to-hire opportunity with a client based in the Carolinas. This role will be supporting a large-scale healthcare transformation initiative and focuses on designing, building, and supporting enterprise APIs that enable seamless data exchange across clinical and operational systems. You will play a key role in modernizing integrations by moving away from legacy patterns toward API-driven architectures, with a strong emphasis on FHIR-based healthcare data standards.
What the Right Professional Will Enjoy
- The opportunity to build and scale enterprise-grade APIs that power critical healthcare systems
- The opportunity to work on a large, multi-year transformation initiative involving modern integration patterns
- The opportunity to leverage FHIR standards to enable interoperability across clinical platforms
- The opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional teams supporting high-impact healthcare data flows
- The opportunity to work in a fully remote, distributed environment with strong engineering ownership
Apply Today If Your Background Includes
- Strong experience with Java and Spring Boot for backend development
- Proven experience designing and building RESTful APIs in enterprise environments
- Hands-on experience working with FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)
- Experience working in system integration environments (API, HL7, or file-based integrations)
- Solid understanding of microservices architecture and API design best practices
- Experience working in Agile environments with cross-functional teams
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable RESTful APIs using Java and Spring Boot
- Build and support FHIR-based integrations to enable interoperability across healthcare systems
- Collaborate with internal teams to translate business and technical requirements into API solutions
- Ensure APIs are secure, performant, and production-ready
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to API performance, reliability, and data exchange
- Contribute to the evolution of enterprise integration architecture and API standards
- Partner with other integration teams (HL7, File Transfer, MDI) to support end-to-end data workflows
Senior Java API Engineer - (Java/Spring Boot, FHIR, Epic) - 100% Remote - W2 Contract-to-Hire
Optomi, in partnership with a leading healthcare company, is seeking a Senior API Engineer to fulfill a contract-to-hire opportunity with a client based in the Carolinas. This role will be supporting a large-scale healthcare transformation initiative and focuses on designing, building, and supporting enterprise APIs that enable seamless data exchange across clinical and operational systems. You will play a key role in modernizing integrations by moving away from legacy patterns toward API-driven architectures, with a strong emphasis on FHIR-based healthcare data standards.
What the Right Professional Will Enjoy
- The opportunity to build and scale enterprise-grade APIs that power critical healthcare systems
- The opportunity to work on a large, multi-year transformation initiative involving modern integration patterns
- The opportunity to leverage FHIR standards to enable interoperability across clinical platforms
- The opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional teams supporting high-impact healthcare data flows
- The opportunity to work in a fully remote, distributed environment with strong engineering ownership
Apply Today If Your Background Includes
- Strong experience with Java and Spring Boot for backend development
- Proven experience designing and building RESTful APIs in enterprise environments
- Hands-on experience working with FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)
- Experience working in system integration environments (API, HL7, or file-based integrations)
- Solid understanding of microservices architecture and API design best practices
- Experience working in Agile environments with cross-functional teams
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable RESTful APIs using Java and Spring Boot
- Build and support FHIR-based integrations to enable interoperability across healthcare systems
- Collaborate with internal teams to translate business and technical requirements into API solutions
- Ensure APIs are secure, performant, and production-ready
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to API performance, reliability, and data exchange
- Contribute to the evolution of enterprise integration architecture and API standards
- Partner with other integration teams (HL7, File Transfer, MDI) to support end-to-end data workflows
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Api Engineer
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Employers who have sponsored H-1B visas for API engineers before are far more likely to do it again. Prioritize companies with a track record of sponsoring software and backend engineering roles over those with no filing history.
Apply before your OPT start date
Hiring timelines for API roles typically run six to twelve weeks. Starting your search two to three months before your OPT authorization begins gives you enough runway to negotiate a start date that aligns with your work authorization.
Highlight backend and integration experience clearly
Employers screening OPT candidates want to see specific technical depth. Lead with REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and any API gateway or microservices experience. Vague descriptions of software work won't differentiate you in a competitive applicant pool.
Confirm your degree field qualifies for the STEM OPT extension
API engineering roles typically fall under software engineering or computer science, both STEM-designated fields. Verify your specific CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer, so you know whether the 24-month extension is available to you.
Address sponsorship directly in your cover letter
Many employers assume OPT means complicated paperwork. A short, confident sentence stating you're authorized to work on OPT now and eligible for H-1B sponsorship before your authorization expires removes ambiguity and keeps your application moving forward.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do API Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. API Engineer positions typically fall under software engineering, computer science, or computer and information science, all of which are STEM-designated fields. Your specific eligibility depends on the CIP code attached to your degree, not your job title. Confirm with your DSO that your program qualifies before you rely on the 24-month extension in your job search planning.
How do I find API Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles open to OPT and visa sponsorship, which removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that won't consider work authorization. For API engineering roles, look for employers in fintech, SaaS, and enterprise software, where backend API development is a core function and H-1B sponsorship is common.
Can I switch API Engineer employers while on OPT without losing my status?
Yes, OPT is not tied to a specific employer the way H-1B status is. You can change jobs as long as your new role is directly related to your field of study and you report the change to your DSO within ten days. On the STEM OPT extension, your new employer must also sign a Form I-983 training plan before you begin work.
What happens to my OPT if my API Engineer job is fully remote?
Remote work is permitted on OPT, but your employer must still be a legitimate U.S.-based company with a real business presence. You cannot work remotely for a foreign employer while on OPT. For the STEM extension, remote employees are still covered under the I-983 requirement, and your employer is responsible for supervising your training plan regardless of work location.
How early should I start applying for API Engineer roles before my OPT authorization begins?
Start applying two to three months before your expected OPT start date. API engineering hiring processes, including technical screens, system design interviews, and offer negotiations, typically take six to twelve weeks. Factoring in EAD processing time of eight to twelve weeks, beginning your search shortly after submitting your OPT application puts you on the most reliable timeline.
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